Can-cutter.



G. C. PERCY.

CAN CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1911.

1,007,307, Patented 0011.31, 1911.

' I 2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

Attorneys G. C. PERCY.

CAN CUTTER.

APPLICATION rum) JUNE 17, 1911.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

Witnesses Attorneys C0-. WASHIN 1 STAT ATNT TQE CAN-CUTTER.

Application filed June 17, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE C. PERCY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greenville, in the county of \Vashington and State of Mississippi, have invented a new and useful CanCutter, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of this invention to provide a can opener so constructed that the can cutting means may be lowered readily into operative position, means being provided for holding the can in place during the cutting operation.

The invention further contemplates the provision of means for elevating that portion of the can which is severed from the can by the cutting means.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 shows the invention in side elevation; Fig. 2 is a section upon the line AB of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the lower end of the shaft which carries the cutter, the view depicting one form of means for raising the severed portion of the can; Fig. 3 is an end view of the base, showing the adjustable supporting and clamping block thereon; Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing a modified form of the invention; Fig. 5 is a top plan of the structure shown in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a fragmental vertical section upon the line CD of Fig. 5, parts appearing in elevation.

In carrying out the invention there is provided a supporting structure, embracing a base 1. Fixed to and rising from the base 1, adjacent one end of the device, is a standard, denoted generally by the numeral 2, the standard being a composite structure, comprising a tubular socket 3, secured immediately to the base 1, and a post 4, vertically slidable in the socket 3, a relative movement between the socket and the post being prevented by means of a set screw 26, threaded into the socket 3, to engage the post 4. The post 4 at its upper end, terminates in a rectangularly disposed head 5, over- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

Serial No. 633,775.

hanging the base 1, and terminating in a tubular, upright bearing 6.

Mounted for vertical sliding movement in the bearing 6, is a tubular sleeve 7, having at its lower end, diverging, troughshaped arms, denoted by the numeral 8. The sleeve 7 is equipped with a longitudinally disposed rib 9, adapted to register in a slot 10 in the bearing 6, the rib 9 being provided with an outstanding stud 11, adapted to move in a longitudinal slot 12 in a lever 14, provided at its outer end with an operating handle 15, the inner end of the lever 14 being fulcrumed, as shown at 16, upon the upper end of the post 4.

J ournaled for rotation in the sleeve 7, and freely slidable, longitudinally, therein, is an operating shaft 17, equipped at its upper end with a crank 18, the lower end of the shaft 17 terminating in a screw 19, threaded as shown at 20, and pointed, to enter the top of the can.

Transversely slidable in the shaft 17, adjacent its lower end, is a cutter bar 21, carrying at its outer end, a rectangularly disposed, pointed cutting element 22, the bar 21 being equipped along one edge, with a rack 23, adapted to be engaged by a worm 24, formed upon a finger shaft 25, j ournaled for rotation in the shaft 17 Slidably mounted upon the base 1, and interengaged therewith in any suitable manner as shown at 27, is a block 28, having ftflIlCt-lOIlS which will be described hereina ter.

The operation of the device as hereinbefore disclosed, is as follows. The can which is to be cut, is placed on the base 1, and held against the lower end of the standard 3, by the block 28; or, if desired,- if the can be of small height, the can may be superposed upon the block 28. The free end of the lever 14 is then depressed, the lever engaging the stud 11 and causing a depression of the sleeve 7, so that the diverging arms 8 (of which there may be any number) are made to engage the periphery of the can. The can will thus be held against rotation. The shaft 17 is now slid downwardly in the sleeve 7, until the cutting element 23 enters the top of the can. If the crank 18 be rotated, it will be seen that the cutting element 22 will sever a circular disk from the top of the can. During the rotation of the shaft 17 the screw 19 will have entered the top of the can, and a raising of the shaft 17 will cause the screw 19 to elevate the disk which the cutter 22 has severed from the can. It will be readily understood that by manipulating the finger shaft 25, the radius in which the cutter moves, may be adjusted, thereby determining the diameter of the disk which is cut from the top of the can. The engagement between the rib 9 of the sleeve 7, and the slot- 10 of the bearing 6, serves to hold the sleeve 7 in the bearing 6 for longitudinal movement, but against rotation. When, therefore, the arms 8 which constitute a part of the sleeve 7' are engaged with the top of the can, the cutter 22 will be ineffective to cause a rotation of the arms 8.

Referring to that form of the invention which is shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, there appears a. base 30, fixed to and rising from which, there is a standard 31, formed at its upper end with an arm 32-, overhanging the base 30. Formed at the end of the arm 32, there is an upright bearing 33, in which is mounted for vertical sliding movement, a sleeve 34, provided at its lower end with diverging arms 35, adapted to engage the upper edge of the can 36, the can 36 being held in place by the abutment block 37.

The operating lever is denoted by the numeral 38, the same being fulcrumed, as shown at 39, upon the arm 32. The lever 38 is preferably a twopart structure, the component elements 40 of which are spread apart, as shown at 41, to receive the bearing 33 between them. Likewise, the rear portions 40 of the lever receive between them, the arm 32; the arm 32 and the standard 31 consisting of rectangularly disposed flanges.

Links 42 are pivotally connected at their upper ends with the sleeve 34, the lower ends of the links being pivotally connected with the lever, in its separated portions 41.

The shaft 43 passes through the interior of the sleeve 34, and is slidable and rotatable therein. The shaft 43 carries at its upper end, a suitable operating crank 44. The lower end of the shaft 43 carries for transverse movement, a bar 45, carrying a cutter 46, the bar being actuated by finger shaft 47, as hereinbefore described. The lower end 48 of the shaft 43 is magnetized.

In practical operation, the lever 38 is depressed at its free end until the arms 35 are thrust against the top of the can 36, the links 42 which connect the lever with the sleeve 34, serving to effect a depressing of the sleeve, and a consequent depressing of the arms 35. When the can is thus held upon the base 30, the shaft 43 may be slid downwardly, within the sleeve 34. This lowering of the shaft 43 will cause the point of the cutter 46 to enter the top of the can, whereupon, by i'nanipulating the handle 44, a disk may be cut from the top of the can.

As soon as this disk is freed from the topof the can, the magnetized end 48 of the shaft will attract the disk, and hold the same, so that when the free end of the operating lever 38 is swung upwardly, the disk will be removed from the can.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure provided with a ver ti :al bearing; a sleeve mounted for vertical sliding movement in the bearing; a shaft rotatable and longitudinally movable in the sleeve, the sleeve being provided at its lower end with diverging arms adapted to engage the top of the can; a cutter transversely adjustable in the shaft, and operating between the arms; a lever fulcrumed upon the supporting structure, and operatively connected with the sleeve.

2. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure provided with a vertical bearing; a sleeve mounted for vertical sliding movement in the bearing; a shaft rotatable and longitudinally movable in the sleeve, the sleeve being provided at its lower end with diverging arms adapted to engage the top of the can; a cutter transversely adjustable in the shaft, and operating between the arms; a lever fulcrumed upon the supporting structure, and operatively connected with the sleeve; and means upon the lower end of the shaft, to retain the disk which the cutter severs from the top of the can, against downward movement.

3. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure provided with a vertical bearing; a sleeve mounted for vertical sliding movement in the bearing; a shaft rotatable and longitudinally movable in the sleeve, the sleeve being provided at its lower end with diverging arms adapted to engage the top of the can; a cutter transversely adjustable in the shaft, and operating between the arms; a lever fulcrumed upon the supporting structure, and operatively connected with the sleeve; the shaft being formed at its lower end with a screw, adapted to enter the top of the can, to engage the disk which is severed from the top of the can by the cutter.

4. A device of the class described comprising a supporting structure provided with a vertical bearing having a longitudinal slot; a sleeve slidable in the bearing, and having a rib registering in the slot; a lever fulcrumed upon the supporting structure; inter-engaging elements upon the lever and upon the rib, to effect a raising and lowering of the sleeve, when the lever is manipulated; a shaft rotatable and longitudinally movable in the sleeve; can-holding elements upon the lower end of the sleeve;

and can-cutting means in the lower end of the shaft.

5. A device of the class described comprising a supporting structure provided with a vertical bearing having a longitudinal slot; a sleeve slidable in the bearing, and having arib registering in the slot; a lever fulcrumed upon the supporting structure; interengaging elements upon the lever and upon the rib, to effect a raising and lowering of the sleeve, when the lever is manipulated; a shaft rotatable and longitudinally movable in the sleeve; can-holding elements upon the lower end of the sleeve; and can-cutting means in the lower; end of the shaft; and means upon the lower end of the shaft to retain the disk which is severed from the can, by the cutting means, against downward movement.

6. A device of the class described comprising a supporting structure provided with a vertical bearing having a longitudinal slot; a sleeve slidable in the bearing, and

having a rib registering in the slot; a lever fulcrumed upon the supporting structure; interengaging elements upon the lever and upon the rib, to effect a raising and lowering of the sleeve, when the lever is manipulated; a shaft rotatable and longitudinally movable in the sleeve; can-holding elements upon the lower end of the sleeve; and cancutting means in the lower end of the shaft; the shaft being provided at its lower end with a screw, adapted to enter the top of the can, to retain the disk which is severed from the can, by the cutting means.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE CARTER PERCY.

Witnesses:

B. H. GILDART, H. M. ROBINSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

